Justice Delivered by Patricia Bradley

Carly Smith came by her trust issues honestly. A victim of sex trafficking, she's been at the mercy of merciless men, ignored by law enforcement officers who should have helped her, and seemingly rejected by her family. She can't even trust herself to do the right thing. Though she escaped her captors and is working hard on building a new life, the past continues to haunt her when she discovers that the man she couldn't bring herself to report to police for fear of reliving her captivity is still out there, luring vulnerable girls under the guise of being a modeling agent.

When her own niece is kidnapped, Carly must overcome her fears and come forward with the information she has before it's too late. When that proves to be not enough, she'll have to go after the perpetrators herself.

This book started out slow.  But then the paced picked up quickly.  The story gripped me and I didn't want to put it down.  The story line was a difficult one to read though.  I know sex trafficking is real but to have it described like it was in the book, was sometimes hard to read.  Overall, I recommend this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life--a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield.

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

I enjoyed reading this book.  It started out rather slow as it was setting the stage for the trip to Paris.  Once they got to Paris the pace picked up considerable.  As the plot unfolded, I had trouble figuring out who was the good guys were.  It kept me guessing for quite a while.  They mystery was well woven throughout the book.  The characters were likeable.  Although Johanna used deceit to get Colin to meet her in Paris, all she wanted to do was find her father.  Colin was still recovering from the trauma he experienced on the war front.  Today we would call it PTDS.  He was still very self conscious of not having a hand.  I would recommend this book to those who like a good mystery.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy

City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons' supposedly lost grandson. But now that he's out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She's not like any woman he's ever met--comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun.

When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don't have, both realize they've stumbled into something dangerous and complicated. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape.

When they emerge back into the real world, they are confronted with a kidnapper who just won't stop. They must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, even as this city man and country woman fight a very inconvenient attraction to each other.

What a great book to end the series.  All Penny wants to do is build her cabin on her homestead.  John wants to find the little boy he's been hired to find and get back east. The only problem is that along the way he runs into outlaws who our out to kill Penny and her family.  John kills the outlaw.  Now he is on the hit list of the outlaws brother.   Penny knows her way around the west.  Being a Pinkerton, John has good detective skills.  When the two meet they butt heads.  In typical Ms. Connealy form humor and mystery were interlaced throughout the book.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in anyway. 

A Return of Devotion by Kristi Ann Hunter

Daphne Blakemoor was perfectly happy living in her own secluded world for twelve years. She had everything she needed--loved ones, a true home, and time to indulge her imagination. But when ownership of the estate where she works as a housekeeper passes on, and the new marquis has an undeniable connection to her past, everything she's come to rely upon is threatened.

William, Marquis of Chemsford's main goal in life is to be the exact opposite of his father. Starting a new life in the peace and quiet of the country sounds perfect until his housekeeper turns his life upside down.

They've spent their lives hiding from the past. Can they find the courage to face their deepest wounds and, perhaps, find a new path for the future together?

Daphne is hiding from the world around her.  She made a mistake in her youth that she is still paying for.  William is not your normal Marquis.  He loves peace and quiet.   When he arrives at his new home he is surprised by how it is run and the lack of staff.  Daphne Being the housekeeper makes that very difficult to do.

I liked the book.  But there seem to be a lot of fluff mixed in with the story.  Daphne liked to imagine how life could be and a lot of time was spent on her imaginations.  Sometimes it seemed to go on and on.  The story between Daphne and William was good.   I enjoyed how they worked out their problems.  If William had been a typical Marquis, things would not have worked out well for Daphne. This was the second book in the series.  It isn't necessary to read the first book.  But it would be helpful so you could understand some of the things mentioned in book 2.  I look forward to reading Jess's story.  Hers could be quite interesting.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way. 

The White City by Grace Hitchcock

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

This book started out slow.  I was almost to the point of deciding whether I should finish it.  Then about a fourth of the way in it, started to get interesting.  I liked Winnie's character.  She was full of life and wanted adventure.  Today she would have made a top rate detective.  In the late 1800's it wasn't even considered.  Jude Thorpe was also a likable character.  His love for his family is what drives him.  He quickly falls in love with Winnie.  But her father will not allow it as he is a policeman.  Which I thought was strange as he was Jude's boss on the police force.  Then there was Percival Valentine.  He was also likable.  He is the man that Winnie's father and aunt have chosen for her to marry.  The only problem with that?  She doesn't love him, she loves Jude.  As far as the mystery aspect of the book, it was okay.  The book did make me look up Mr. Holmes to read more about him.

If the book hadn't started out so slow, I would probably give it four stars.  So therefore, I will be giving it three stars.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way. 

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot

As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it's time for a change. With her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek's midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn't sure her heart can take it.

Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn't concerned only with the baby's welfare. He's been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated--and he'll need Thea's help if he's ever to find the justice he seeks.

All Thea wants is a fresh start in life.  With the help of Aimee, her is looking for her birth mother, they head to Ciimarron Creek.  Jackson wants to find the outlaws who killed his brother.  When he eliminates Thea as a suspect they work together to find the Gang.   

What a great conclusion to the Cimarron Creek Series.  I recommend the entire series for all who like mystery and romance.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

The Coffee Club Mysteries

The coffee shop on the corner of First and Main in Oak Grove, Kansas, seems to attract a series of mysterious events. Or perhaps it is the six women who frequent the shop for book club who are magnets for trouble. . . .

Morgan Butler, owner of the Coffee Perk, finds a project worker hanged at her shop.

Penny Parson finds a gun in one of her beehives.

Evelyn Kliff discovers a dead church meal organizer.

Jo Anderson shares hazelnut coffee creamer, sending a woman into anaphylactic shock.

Harper Daggett is being stalked for an antique jade owl she bought.

Baker Jeanine Gransbury’s charity event money goes missing.
 
These short stories were a delight to read.  I would class them as a good cozy read. You can either set at the beach or in front of the fireplace.  These were not edge of your seat thrillers but good mysteries done the less.  Each main character was at a different stage in life. There wasn't even a romance in a couple of them.  I recommend this book to all those who enjoy a light read with likable characters.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.